Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-24
"I'LL TAKE THAT TURKEY I"

elder sister; ''Sally, don't tread on my
toes-I amt Captain Bradstreet." ;" there was
louder laughter and some confusion.
Job Harkins waited ON the table, and
when the company retired to the parlor he
sat down with the domestic and the two
| men who labOred in the DeacOn's fields, and
| ate, as he had been promised, his best
Christmas dinner since 1864. At nine clock
when the village guests had departed, job
was summoned to the parlor. He came
slowly and diffidently.
''Harkins," !" said the Deacon, ''you've re-
deemed yourself and surprised us. How
was it!''
Job looked doubtfully at Clarice, who
laughed mischievously.
"He wants me to explain, father.
~ contrived little plot when l found that
the great turkey was safe. Job brought it
here just after you all went to meeting. /
stuffed and roasted it myself, telling the
girl to say nothing about it. Then l made
Job stay up in the mems room till dinner
was ready, and he had his instructions, as
you have seen"
1T was deception, Clarice," said the
Deacon.
''It was well done, anyway" said Captain
Bradstreet
you've been saying that I couldn't
cook" said Clarice, stoutly, TO her mother
and sister. what do you think now?''
''She's awful clever" put in young Solo
mon.
''But don't understand how the turkey
came back said the Deacon.
''Sir," spoke up Job, with shaking voice,
'your deserved reproaches last night
seemed to sober me all at once In two
minutes resolved that I'd have that turkey
back or somebody would be hurt. l took
the hatchet and started. Knowing where
those fellows would be locked up together,
| went and knocked at the door. They
wouldn't let me in. / burst it in, and there
they were; two dozen Of them round the
table throwing Dice with the turkey in the
middle of it. They didn't seem to like my
looks, or the look Of the hatchet. They all
fell back as | walked in.
'Tn take that turkey | said. If any
man gets in my way, I'll split his head
Nobody offered to stop me. Right or
wrong, had it in me to do as | said"
Il believe you would have done it,
vob Harlzins," said Captain Bradstreet.
'sThere's an old soldier sound in your talk
it's just like you. Don't you know mea"
and the Captain offered his hand.
TO be sure | did, sir, as soon as | saw
you. But it wasn't for me to speak to you.
I'm not the man | was, Captain"
''We'u find the man in you, Job," was the
hearty reply. 'There was one there dozen
years ago. and | believe he's there yet"
'Why, where did You know Joba' Sally
asked.
He was in my company. A better
soldier was not in the war"
s'The man in him. was found. The
Captain and Miss Sally were married the
next week and when they went to their
distant Western home, Job went with them.
None knew him better than his former Of
ficer, and he insisted that new scenes and
faces and the breaking-up Of old associa-
tions, were things that were absolutely
needful to save him. He was right. The
eleventh Christmas is approaching that
Job Harkins viii enjoy since the one de-
scribed. He will pass this one at Captain
Bradstreet's, with his wife and babe. Sally's
boys will clamor, as usual, to hear some OF
his war-stories, which they insist are bet
ter than their fathers. But he will not re-
late to them the facts of the life, death and
strange posf-mortem experience of JOBS
TURKEY. JAMES FRANKLIN Fits.